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New legislation & Local 727’s fight for its members

By Reel Chicago
Mar 16, 2020

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Over the weekend, the House passed legislation (Families First Coronavirus Response Act, H.R. 6201) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the key provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act impacting workers includes:

1) requiring employers to give paid sick leave in addition to what employers currently provide for those directly affected by COVID-19, and/or family members with COVID-19, if the employee has or is suspected to have COVID-19 (coronavirus); 2) requiring employers to grant 12 weeks of job-protected paid Family and Medical Leave Act Leave (the first two weeks of which could be unpaid) for employees to: respond to quarantine requirements, to care for family members responding to quarantine requirements, and to care for a child who’s school has been closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As written the Families First Coronavirus Response Act currently excludes employers with more than 500 employees.

Luckily, many large companies have taken the actions called for in the new legislation on their own. For example, clothing companies like Anthropologie and Lululemon have closed their stores throughout North America but have committed to paying their employees. Similarly, companies of all sizes in the Chicagoland area are finding ways to pay employees as schools, restaurants, and bars have closed.